Southern Oregon softball coach Fritts resigns

ASHLAND — Kim Fritts announced Monday she will not return as head coach of the Southern Oregon University softball team.

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Posted May. 13, 2014 at 12:20 AM
Updated May 13, 2014 at 3:20 AM

Posted May. 13, 2014 at 12:20 AM
Updated May 13, 2014 at 3:20 AM

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ASHLAND — Kim Fritts announced Monday she will not return as head coach of the Southern Oregon University softball team.

Fritts just wrapped up her eighth season in charge of the SOU program, leading the Raiders to a 15-23 record and their first Cascade Conference playoff berth since 2010.

Fritts finished her time at SOU with a 127-158 overall mark and playoff berths in 2009, '10 and '14. The 2009 squad went 22-15 overall and 18-6 in conference play, finished second in the conference, and just missed a trip to the NAIA national tournament.

She came to SOU prior to the 2007 season from the College of Charleston, where she served as an assistant.

Track and Field

SIXTEEN TO NATIONALS — Sixteen members of the Southern Oregon University men's and women's track and field teams have earned spots in as many events NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, May 22-24 in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Those numbers were finalized with the conclusion of conference tournaments over the weekend. The Raiders learned that three of their NAIA 'B' standard marks would qualify.

Cary Dunagan's mark in the 3,000-meter steeplechase is 15th, Jonz Olander is 16th in the 400 and the men's 4x100 relay team of Kermit Knight, Robert Benamati, Cameron Bremner and Olander also was 16th.

The rest of the Raiders making the trip established automatic marks during the season.

Men's Basketball

RAIDERS ADD THREE — Southern Oregon University has signed three high school senior guards to letters of intent.

Philomath's Ben DeSaulnier, Roseburg's Carson Reid and Kenny Meyer of Sparks, Nev., will join 10 returning players from a team that went 22-9 and tied for second place in the Cascade Conference.

DeSaulnier averaged 25 points per game as a senior, Meyer left as Spanish Springs High's all-time leading scorer and Reid has been one of the Southern Oregon Hybrid's top playmakers since his sophomore season.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound DeSaulnier was an all-state player in basketball, baseball and at four positions in football. He scored 30 points in Philomath's Class 4A state tile win and set a school record with 53 points over three quarters of a February game at Stayton.

Meyer, a 6-2 combo guard, led his team to its first appearance in the top-level Nevada state tournament with averages of 19.9 points, 4.2 assists, 3.1 steals and 3.0 rebounds, earning him a spot on the all-state second team.

Reid, 6-2, posted 13 points, four rebounds and two assists as a second-team all-conference player.

Baseball

HENDRIX HONORED — Oregon State sophomore Jeff Hendrix has been named the Pac-12 Conference player of the week.

In the Beavers' 4-0 week, Hendrix went 8-for-18 (.444) with six runs, five RBIs, a home run, two doubles and two stolen bases. The home run, his second, was the game-tying shot against UCLA Sunday as the Beavers scored 11 unanswered runs.

The Corvallis native finished with two or more hits in three of the four games. His sacrifice fly Tuesday against Oregon won it in the 12th inning.

Hendrix is batting .387 and has seven doubles to go along with three triples, two home runs and 26 RBIs.